White not interested in pushing for Shevchenko-Nunes trilogy

Amanda Nunes and Valentina Shevchenko during their rematch at UFC 215 in 2017 | Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images

Dana White thinks Valentina Shevchenko and Amanda Nunes should have their own legacies.

The trilogy between Amanda Nunes and Valentina Shevchenko is unlikely to happen unless both women want the fight.

Shevchenko and Nunes are currently ranked #1 and #2 in the women’s pound-for-pound rankings. The two first fought at UFC 196 in 2016 with Amanda Nunes winning a three-round unanimous decision. Nunes again won a decision in their rematch at UFC 215, however the fight was very close with some scoring the fight for Shevchenko.

Talking after Shevchenko’s win against Jessica Andrade at UFC 261 this past weekend, White said Shevchenko moving back up to bantamweight doesn’t make sense.

“(They should have) their own legacies,” White told MMA Junkie. “They fought a couple times. People can think whatever they want. There’s always going to be somebody else coming up (to challenge Shevchenko). There’s always a new contender. And it’s not Valentina’s fault that she’s one of the all-time baddest women on this planet. So making her move up to 135 pounds just doesn’t make sense when she did it twice.

“If they both come to me and they both want to do it, then whatever – I’ll make it happen. But it’s not something I’m thinking about.”

Nunes has walked through all her opponents since last defeating Shevchenko in 2017. “The Lioness” currently holds belts at 135 and 145-pounds and is scheduled to defend her bantamweight title against Julianna Pena at UFC 265 in August.